NYC Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens
Motorcycle riding is exhilarating, but the freedom of the open road comes with a price. Motorcycles offer very little in the way of protection for the rider in the event of a crash, whether they are directly impacted by a car or truck or forced off the road, thrown from their bike or into a fixed object. Injuries, including catastrophic injuries, and death occur in motorcycle accidents at a far greater rate than for other road users involved in a crash. Often the riders themselves are blamed for the accident, making it much harder for riders and their families to recover compensation when another driver’s negligence was at fault. The lack of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance for motorcyclists creates another hurdle, forcing riders to prove the other driver’s negligence in order to get help with medical bills, lost income and other damages.
The motorcycle accident attorneys at Cohan Law Firm are dedicated to helping accident victims in their time of need. We make sure you get the care and help you need while fighting to hold negligent drivers and their insurance companies fully accountable for the harm you have suffered. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a crash with a negligent driver in Brooklyn, The Bronx, or throughout NYC, call Cohan Law Firm for a free consultation with an experienced New York motorcycle accident lawyer.
Leading Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can be the fault of the rider, a negligent driver, a pedestrian, a road defect, loose cargo falling off a truck bed, and countless other reasons. Whatever the cause, the motorcyclist is apt to experience a serious injury because of their exposure to harm when striking or getting struck by other vehicles, fixed objects, or the road surface itself. Nationally, motorcycles make up only 3% of registered vehicles and constitute only .4% of vehicle miles traveled, yet motorcycle riders account for 10% of traffic deaths. And although helmets reduce injuries and save lives, even helmeted riders experience a high incidence of brain injury or death from a head injury in a crash.
Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in New York include:
- Drivers making left turns across the path of an oncoming motorcycle
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drinking and driving
- Inexperience
- Following too close/tailgating
- Threading through traffic
- Lane-splitting or white-lining
- Failure to signal
- Poor weather conditions
- Unexpected obstacles
- Under-cornering
- Over-braking
- Vehicle defects
- Road defects
- Aggressive driving, harassment and road rage
Recovering Compensation for Motorcycle Accidents in New York
New York’s no-fault insurance law allows most drivers to claim benefits from their Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance after a crash without regard to who may have been at fault in causing the crash. Injured drivers need only make a claim to their insurance company for benefits that cover all their reasonable and necessary medical expenses, as well as a large portion of their missed income for the time they are absent from work due to their injuries. Injured drivers, passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians can all access PIP benefits without having to sue the other driver.
Motorcyclists, on the other hand, do not benefit from no-fault insurance. They cannot get PIP coverage for their motorcycles, and they aren’t covered for motorcycle accidents even if another member of the household has PIP insurance on a covered vehicle. Instead, the legal recourse for an injured motorcyclist or the family of a rider who died in a fatal accident is to pursue a claim against the negligent driver or other party responsible for causing the crash.
Even if the motorcyclist is considered partly to blame for causing the accident, they can still recover from another negligent party, although the amount they recover will be reduced in proportion to their share of negligence. This is important given the serious and catastrophic injuries that can befall a rider. Even holding another party responsible for a small portion of the total fault can be of significant help to an injury victim dealing with extensive medical costs, unemployment, pain and suffering, and other damages arising from a crash.
Contact Cohan Law Firm for Help After a Motorcycle Accident in New York
To be successful in their claim, the accident victim has to prove the other party was negligent and their negligence caused the crash and resulting injury. This requires the help of a skilled and knowledgeable attorney who knows the law and how to build a strong case to negotiate the most favorable settlement or litigate the matter as needed. In Brooklyn, The Bronx, and throughout NYC, you’ll find the dedicated help you need at Cohan Law Firm. Call our experienced New York motorcycle accident lawyers today for a free consultation about your accident and injury.
